Asia Pacific Business Coalition on AIDS

The Asia Pacific Business Coalition on AIDS (www.apbca.com) is leading the private sector response to HIV and AIDS in the region. Its aim is to help halt and reverse HIV and AIDS by encouraging and coordinating greater business engagement. It is funded by the Australian private sector, with Qantas and BHP Billiton as key supporters.

APBCA provides support to a network of national Business Coalitions on AIDS, most of which it helped create. The Business Coalitions are mainly funded by the local private sector and focus on workplace policy and education to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in the workplace. This has proven to be a very cost effective prevention strategy.

Business should respond to HIV not just out of humanitarian concern but for sound economic reasons. The epidemic has the potential to undermine sustained growth of markets in the region because it strikes at the most economically active age groups - the workforce, ages 16 - 49. HIV cuts into planned company expenses by increasing costs of employee healthcare, recruitment and training. Firms with employees who become HIV positive may see a reduction in productivity as staff become ill. The disease ultimately reduces company profits as expenses increase, service delivery fails to adhere to planned schedules and customers change their purchasing plans.

HIV prevalence rates in the Asia-Pacific are still low enough for all businesses to maintain healthy workforces and communities. Workplace HIV interventions have been shown to be relatively inexpensive. Contribution to national HIV responses today will provide a greater cost saving in the future.

By joining APBCA in the fight against HIV/AIDS you will take a leading role in maintaining the health of your business and community. Join APBCA now